Life

The 45-year-old Englishman outlines his plan for the first 100 days in office as the new chief of the European Tour’s Middle East division

- Tom Phillips

HE’S WORKED FOR SIR NICK FALDO, helmed the Hong Kong Golf Association and has consulted to Mission Hills in China - the world’s largest golf facility with 22 courses – for the past three years. It’s no surprise then that Tom Phillips owns some pretty amazing golf memories.

The absolute highlight for the 12-handicapper? “Playing nine holes with Lewis Hamilton at Mission Hills last year.”

A bit like F1, Phillips career progression has been rapid too. The 45-year-old Englishman started as the chief of the European Tour’s Middle East division on July 1, succeeding long-serving Nick Tarratt. He brings wife Tania as well as 25 years’ experience in the golf and leisure industries, the last 14 years in Asia, to Dubai and his new role.

With a BA Honours degree in media and communications and 15 years working for England’s first golfing knight as the CEO of the Faldo Series, Phillips can’t wait to get started in his dream role.

“What is my proudest single career achievement to date? Being appointed Head of Middle East for the European Tour,” Phillips says. “I’ve worked closely with the tour for more than 20 years through my different roles in golf, so to join the team and take on this position in such an important region for the sport is a privilege.”

— kent gray

WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM YOUR TIME AS CEO OF THE FALDO SERIES THAT WILL BE USEFUL IN YOUR NEW ROLE?

That you need to commit time and effort to any project for it to succeed. It’s testament to Sir Nick that the time and effort he commits to the programme has launched so many successful careers over the years. Some people were sceptical when the series was first launched but all these years later he’s still devoted to the cause, taking so many players under his wing and helping them make it to a high level.